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The next day I came back with Queequeg . Bildad was not happy . He wanted to see papers about Queequeg’s religion before he agreed to take him . “ Have you ever harpooned a whale ? ” asked Peleg . Queequeg did not answer . He jumped up into one of the whaling boats that were hanging at the side of the ship . He lifted his harpoon and pointed at a tiny drop of tar that was floating on the water . “ You see that small spot ? ” he said . “ That is the whale’s eye . ” He threw the harpoon right over Bildad’s hat and across the deck . It hit the small black spot exactly . “ Quick , Bildad , ” said Peleg . “ Get the papers ! We must have this man in one of our boats ! ” He offered Queequeg the ninetieth lay , which was a very good share . Queequeg could not write his name . So instead he carefully drew on the paper a copy of one of the tattoos on his arm . As we walked away from the ship , a ragged stranger stopped us . His clothes were old and torn , and he had a strange , wild look in his eyes . “ Have you joined that ship ? ” he asked , and he pointed at the Pequod . “ Have you seen Old Thunder yet ? Captain Ahab ? ” “ No , ” I said . “ He is ill . ” “ Ill ? ” The stranger laughed softly . “ Did they tell you anything about his leg ? No ? Well , it doesn’t matter . The sailors are signed on now , and what is done is done . Some sailors must go with him , I suppose . Good morning to you . ” “ What is your name ? ” I asked . “ Elijah , ” he said , and he walked away . “ He is mad , ” I said to Queequeg . But his words stayed in my mind for a long time . VI . Setting Sail For several days the Pequod was full of noise and work . Men carried sails , ropes , barrels , food and water on board . Captain Bildad’s sister , Aunt Charity , came every day with small gifts for the sailors . Early one grey morning , before the sun was up , Queequeg and I walked down to the ship . Through the mist I saw some dark figures ahead of us . They were running quietly towards the Pequod . Then they disappeared . Suddenly somebody touched my shoulder . It was Elijah again . “ Are you going on board ? ” he asked . “ Did you see some men running towards the ship just now ? ” “ Yes , ” I said , “ I think I saw four or five men . ” “ Well , try to find them now , ” said Elijah . And he was gone again . We went on board , but the ship was silent . The only person there was an old sailor who was asleep . We saw no running men anywhere . I did not know what to think . The Pequod sailed on a cold , bright Christmas Day . Captain Ahab stayed in his cabin , so Peleg and Bildad took the ship out of the harbour themselves . When the open sea was in front of us , they got ready to leave us . Old Bildad did not want to go . He walked up and down the deck , and even Peleg had a tear in his eye .
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